Residency orders

[tigger19]

My partner & I are thinking of going for a Residency order for his 2 children. Does her Mother have to be in attendance at her interview with the CAFCASS Officer. Her mother is an alcoholic and our solicitor has said that she would have to be strong enough to say so to the Officer, and I'm not sure she would feel she could speak up in front of her Mother.

Tigger19

[thikasabrik]

The CAFCASS officer usually interviews all parties concerned in the case. Each person is seen individually, including children. My friend is going through a custody battle and all three of her kids were interviewed individually at the CAFCASS office. (her kids are 13, 9 and 4).

[tweetysweeti]

hi there just a wee question about the CAF CASS officer for that to happen does the parent have to be an alcoholic? we are going through a custody case my lawyer hasnt mentioned a cass officer we have been waiting for a year now!,would one be used if we thought the other party was infit.

[thikasabrik]

CAFCASS should be used in all custody matters. They interview all parties concerned individually and then submit a report to the court. Their aim is to ascertain what outcome is in the best interests of the child/children concerned.There doesn't have to be any allegation that a parent is unfit.In my friends case it was simply that the oldest two kids decided they wanted to leave mum and live with dad (who is richer, spoils them etc etc). Apparently the courts now say that if a child is age 9 or over then the child has the final say in where they live. My friends ex husband won the residence order for the oldest two.